The Global Conservative Anatomic Prosthesis (Global CAP) is an uncemented press fit humeral resurfacing implant developed by DePuy. We report a single surgeon series of Global CAP prostheses implanted in Norwich. 103 procedures were carried out between 2006 and 2011, in 93 patients. Mean age was 72 years (range 43 to 90). Patients were followed up for a mean 8 months (range 0 to 56). Pre-operative Oxford shoulder scores were recorded in a preadmission clinic and an Oxford score questionnaire was sent to patients post-operatively in December 2011. The mean score preoperatively was 19, rising to 28 postoperatively. Two patients developed rotator cuff tears and have been revised to reverse polarity arthroplasty. One is pending revision for a cuff tear. This prosthesis shows promise at this early stage for compensated glenohumeral arthritis when a bone preserving procedure is desirable.
To audit the routine measurement of Vitamin B12 levels prior to cervical decompressive surgery Retrospective analysis of medical records and pathology results of patients who underwent decompressive cervical surgery for myelopathy over a 6 month period 26 patients were identified from theatre records. 21 out of 26 patients did not have vitamin B12 levels checked prior to their decompressive surgery The reports in the literature of co-existent B12 deficient myelopathy and mechanical compression are a cause for concern. Although the incidence of this is unknown and unlikely to be common, good clinical practice would suggest that we should be routinely monitoring B12 levels in myelopathic patients. We have introduced new standards for routinely checking B12 levels pre-operatively and intend to re-audit the effectiveness of these in six months time.
